My 20 minutes with Rahul Gandhi was very enlightening. It resolved one question that has been plaguing me ever since my wedding last Sunday. Of course, we all know that in an ideal world, after marriage come kids and happy parenthood. But what after cricket? Well, I rung up several of my colleagues in the Indian team and all they could suggest was that I try my hand at commentating. “You can learn to speak at length from Harsha Bhogle or Sidhu,” was Sachin’s advice. Now, I understand the little master is himself practising before the mirror to hone his speaking skills. But the moot point was—should I turn to the microphone after I hang up my willow and gloves? Only Azhar bhai had an alternative career option. “Mahi, after cricketgiri try netagiri,” he said in his typical drawl when I got him on his mobile. I must admit I was quite impressed by his suggestion and my new wife Sakshi (who isn’t particularly fond of cricket) was quick to nod her approval. “You don’t have to go through life talking about short legs, square legs, short fine legs and very fine legs. Some of these Bollywood actresses may get ideas....” Well, what does one say? Unfortunately, the great game (and I’m quoting Navjot Paaji) is Sakshi’s “backward point”.
Anyway, that aside, when I sought an appointment with Rahulji I was pleased to learn he was willing to spare some time. So I drove to 10 Janpath with my friend, fast-medium bowler R.P. Singh. Incidentally, he was born in Rae Bareli—Soniaji’s constituency—and that helped. And yes, Sakshi kept away since she does not think much of politicians and often quotes H.L. Mencken, the American satirist who once said “a good politician is quite unthinkable as an honest burglar.” Still, she feels netagiri is better than cricket although she prefers hotel management and a cup of tea to both.
But that apart, Rahul was indeed very warm although he was quick to point out that politics is not cricket. “A cricket ground is a flat piece of earth with some buildings around it,” he said quoting Richie Benaud. “But politics is a different ball game where you have to convince and confuse the people.” Well, that was indeed very deep insight (RP later told me he too was impressed). Incidentally, Rahul had read up about us on Wikipedia and knew that my birthday falls on July 7 and that RP was born on December 6 (Rahul was thoughtful enough to tell him that was the day the Beatles started recording Sgt Pepper). It is another matter that RP listens mostly to Bollywood remixes.
So, what of my future in politics? Well, I have left it all to Rahulji. As for my shaadi, I’m not going to reveal whether I bowled the maiden over or whether the maiden bowled me. I was to get married in October but it was advanced thanks to astrologer Vastu Venkatesh who felt July 4 was auspicious since it’s Independence Day...in America.
(As imagined by Ajith Pillai)
